UC NEWS

Documentary Focuses on Sexual Violence in Military

YWCA, Womyn's Resource Center to Lead Discussion

Written By Dyana Smolen, YWCA

Post-event discussion to focus on sexual violence, where to get help locally

Contact

cleogrande@utica.edu

Utica, NY (11/25/2013)

- A screening and discussion of the documentary "The Invisible War" will be held at Utica College on Monday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. The film, which highlights the pervasiveness of sexual assault in the military, will be shown in Carbone Auditorium in the Economic Crime, Justice Studies, and Cybersecurity Building. Sponsored by the K. Della Ferguson Womyn's Resource Center, the event is free and open to the public.

The film will be followed by a brief discussion led by Kacey Blaney, a sexual assault victim advocate assigned to the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, NY, and Katarzyna Zieli?ska, a Utica College Visiting Professor of Sociology. Following the event, a YWCA Mohawk Valley educator will be available to answer questions regarding sexual violence and to share information on how to access help locally.

“The Invisible War” premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival where it received the “U.S. Documentary Audience Award.” It received a “Best Documentary Feature” nomination at the 85th Academy Awards earlier this year.

The film features interviews with U.S. Armed Forces veterans who recount events surrounding assaults they experienced. Their stories reveal common themes, such as lack of recourse in an impartial justice system, consequences for survivors instead of perpetrators, the absence of adequate emotional and physical care for survivors, the unhindered advancement of perpetrators' careers, and the forced expulsion of survivors from service.

For more information about the screening, contact the Utica College Womyn's Resource Center at 792-3327. For 24-hour confidential help with or information about sexual violence, call the YWCA Mohawk Valley’s hotline at (315) 797-7740.

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